Method of making ball retainers and the like



Jan. 15, 1924. 1 4 1 00 P. ERICKSON METHOD OF MAKING BALL RETAINERS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 14, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet, l

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P. ERICKSON METHOD OF MAKING BALL RETAINERS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 14. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 1, i924.

FETRUS ERICK SON, OF CEICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO U. S. BALL BEARING MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

METHOD OF BEING BALL RETAINERS AND THE L Application filed December 14, 1922. Serial No. 606,851.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, Pmos ERIoKsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of 6 Illinois, have invented a new. and useful Improvement in Methods of Making Ball Retainers and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the method of makin ball retainers and the like, and is fully diescribed in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a complete ball retainer;

Fig. 2 is a blank from which the retainer is formed;

Fig. 3 is a partial section of the punch and die used in the first operation shown in 29 the elements before the punching operation; Fig. 4 is a view of the same showing the elements in punching position;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the punch and drawing die performing the next operation; Fig. 6 is a partial sectional View of the blank placed between the drawing ,and the cupping die with the plunger inserted and readly to perform the next operation on the blan so Fig. 7 is a similar view of the parts shown in Flg. 6 showing the completed operation of forcing the tube through the .blank and Fig. 8 is a similar view of the ball retainer held between the cupping die and the closin die, the latter closing the opening of the tu e about a ball to retain it therein.

The ball retainer is formed from a circular blank 10 in which a seriesof equally spaced holes 11 are formed by means of one so or more punches 12 and dies 13 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The upper face of the die 13 is depressed and this serves to cause the blank 10 to be dished around the holes 11, as shown in Fig. 4.

At the next operation which is shown completed in Fig. 5, the blank 10 is placed'with one of these dished portions over the drawing die 14 and the point of the tapered punch 12 inserted in the hole 11. F The openmg in the drawing die 14 is larger than the punch 12 so that the dished metal around the ole 11 is drawn down into the form of 3.1

short tube 14 which is compressed between the punch 12 and the inner face of the die 14, thereby causing the inner face of the tube 15 to become highly polished. 1

The punch 12 is then withdrawn from the tube 15 and with the drawing die 14 again surrounding the tubular portion 15 as shown in Fig. 6. A plunger 16is inserted, which has a cylindrical portion 17 snugly but slidabl fitting in the hole in the drawing die,

that of the ball which is intended to be held by the ball retainer.

These elements are then placed over a cupping die 21 as shown in Fig. 6. The plunger 16 is then forced down as shown in Fig. 7.

.The tube 15 is retained-between the lower end of the drawing die 14 and the spherical cup 22 of the die 21 so that as the plunger 16 is forced down, this tube is forced partially through the plate end forming the fold 23 as shown in Fig. 7. At the same time it will be noted that the cup 22 forces the metal of the fold 23 in around the spherical part 20 of the plunger, thereby providing the lower half a spherical cup or the ball.

The ball 24 is then dropped into this cup and a closing die 25 forced down over the tube 15, as shown in F i 8, closing the metal of this tube around the ball 24 so as to retain it. During this operation the fold 23 is a ain supported by the cupping die 21.-

l e ball retainer may be trimmed either before or after the balls are inserted in the retainer by means of suitable trimming dies .whiclr trim along the lines 26 and 27, as

shown in Fig. 2.

The finished ball retainer, as shown in Fi 1, with balls therein is then completed and may be sold as an article of commerce either with the balls retained in place as it would he used in a thrust hearing, or without the bails'in which case the balls may later be inserted.

ile I have. shown and described but a single embodiment of my invention,.it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may he made without departing from the spirit and see metal plate,

of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as possible in View of the prior art.

I claim- 1. The method of making ball retainers consisting of punching a series of holes in a metal plate, enlargin said holes to substantially the diameter of the balls, drawing the metal about said holes into tubular form, and forcing said tube through the plate so as to leave partof the tube. on each side of the plate.

2. The method of making ball retainers consisting of punching a series of holes in a metal plate, enlarging said holes to substantially the diameter of the balls, simultaneously drawing the metal about said holes into' tubular form, and forcing said tube through the plate so as o leave part of the tube on each Side of the plate;

3. The method of making ball retainers consisting of punching a series of holes in' a metal plate, enlarging said holes to substantially the diameter of the balls, simultaneously drawing the metal about said holes into tubular form, forcing said tube through the plate so as to leave part of the tube on each side of the plate, and simultaneously cupping the end of the tube forced through the plate to form a socket for a ball.

a. The method of making ball retainers consisting of punching aseries of holes in a enlarging said holes to substantially the diameter of the balls, simultaneously drawing the metal about said holes into tubular form, and forcing said tube through the plate so as to leave part of the tube on each side of the plate, said tube being held against lateral movement While being forced through said plate.

5. The method of making ball retainers consisting of punching a series of holes in a metal plate, enlarging said holes to substantially the diameter of the balls, simultaneously drawing the metal about aid holes into tubular form, and forcing said tube through the plate so as to leave part of the tube on each side of the plate, said tube being held against lateral movement While being forced through said plate, between a reduced portion of the plunger which forces 1t down and a cylindrical member outside the tube.

6. The method of making ball retainers consisting of punching a series of holes in a metal plate enlarging said hole to substantially the diameter of the balls, simultaneously drawing the metal about said holes into tubular form, and forcing said tube through he plate so as to leave part of the tube on each side of the plate, said tube being held against lateral movement While being forced through said plate between a reduced portion of the plunger which forces it down and a cylindrical member outside the tube, the reduced end of said plunger being rounded and forcing said tubular portion which is forced through said plate against a spherical cupping die whereby a spherical on is formed in said tube to receive a ball.

.7. The method of making ball retainers consisting of punching a series of holes in a metal plate, enlarging said holes to substantially the diameter of the balls, simultaneously drawing the metal about said holes into tubular form, forcing said tube through the'plate so as to leave part of the tube on each side of the plate, simultaneously cupping the end of the tube forced through the plate to form a socket for a ball, and partially closing the end of said, tube after the.

ball is placed therein.

PETRUS ERTLCKSGN. 

